Segmented Collimator Blades for Ultra-Low-Dose CT Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiographic devices, particularly CT systems, face challenges in reducing radiation exposure to patients due to the need for high-speed gantry rotation and multiple projection views, which can degrade image quality and require rapid adjustment of x-ray power, leading to safety concerns and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A collimator system comprising a shielding portion and a block portion with multiple unit pieces that can be opened or closed to selectively transmit radiation, allowing for adjustment of the radiation irradiation range without altering the x-ray source power, thereby reducing the number of projection views and radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotation speed of CT gantry is enhanced to reduce imaging time, then productivity is improved, but the weight of the gantry becomes a limiting factor and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator is divided into multiple independent blade elements that can be individually controlled. This segmentation allows selective opening/closing of specific regions to optimize radiation exposure for different anatomical areas, reducing overall radiation dose while maintaining imaging quality without requiring faster gantry rotation.
2Productivity
If the number of multi-slice detectors is increased to reduce imaging time, then productivity is improved, but cone beam artifacts increase and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator applies local quality control by differentiating the opening state of blades in different regions. The collimation pattern is customized for specific anatomical regions (e.g., head, chest, abdomen), optimizing radiation exposure locally rather than using a uniform approach, which improves image quality while reducing artifacts.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the power of x-ray source is adjusted rapidly to reduce radiation exposure, then object-affected harmful factors are reduced, but the rapid adjustment is difficult to achieve due to gantry rotation speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the radiation control function from the x-ray source power adjustment and transfers it to the collimator blade system. By opening or closing specific blade regions, the effective radiation exposure area is controlled without requiring rapid power changes, simplifying the control mechanism while reducing radiation dose.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the number of projection views is reduced to achieve ultra-low-dose imaging, then object-affected harmful factors are reduced, but image reconstruction quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator performs preliminary spatial filtering by pre-defining the radiation exposure pattern before the x-ray reaches the patient. This preliminary action of selective collimation ensures that only necessary regions are irradiated, allowing effective ultra-low-dose imaging with fewer projection views while maintaining reconstruction quality through optimized spatial distribution of radiation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The collimator system effectively reduces radiation exposure to patients by allowing for flexible adjustment of the radiation field, enabling ultra-low-dose CT imaging with improved image quality and reduced noise, while maintaining high-speed gantry rotation without the need for rapid x-ray power adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a shielding portion blocking the radiation
Implementation Method 2
a block portion comprising a plurality of unit pieces which can be opened or closed to selectively transmit the radiation
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a collimator and an inspecting system using the same. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a collimator for setting a radiation irradiation range, the collimator comprising: a shielding portion blocking the radiation; and a block portion comprising a plurality of unit pieces which can be opened or closed to selectively transmit the radiation.